Blotter



(.No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. ST. 0. WAIT. BLOTTER.

No. 441,516; Patented Nov. 25 1890.

m: NORRIS ravens cm, PNOYD-UTNCL, msmum'ou, n. c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-$heet 2.

H. ST. 0. WAIT.

BLOTTER.

No. 441,516. Patented Nov. 25, 1890.

m: mums warns cm, PNDYO-UYNO.. wAsmNC-Ton, n. c,

(No Model.) 3 sheets -sheet 3.

H. ST. 0. WAIT. BLOTTER.

No. 441,516. Patented Nov. 25,1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

lIOlVARD ST. CLAIR VAIT, OF RAHlVAY, NE? JERSEY.

BLOTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,516, dated November 25, 1890.

Application filed April 5, 1890. Serial No. 361,053. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HOWARD ST. CLAIR WAIT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rahway, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Blotters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to blotters of that class in which sheets or strips of blotting-paper are secured to or combined with a device or holder which carries and retains the blotter-sheets, the whole forming ahand blotting device for use upon the desk or in any desired manner.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and improved blotter of this character in which the strips of blotting-paper can be instantly and conveniently applied without any previous preparation, which will securely retain the blotter in the usual flat position in which it is adapted to be operated by a pressure of the hand or fingers, and which will possess advantages in point of simplicity and inexpensiveness in construction and manufacture, convenience and facility in use, durability, ease of adjustment, and general efficiency.

Afurther object of my invention is to effectively obviate the disadvantage and inconvenien ce usually experienced in the operation of flat blotters of this class from the rubbing of the hand or fingers directly upon the blotter when pressure is applied, and to this end my invention provides for the employment of a sheet of oil-board or equivalent material, which is adapted to normally overlay the blotter and serve. as a contact-piece for the hand. This object and feature of my invention renders it specially adapted for advertising purposes, the sheet or oil-board or equivalent material being adapted to carry any suitable or desired advertising matter, or such matter may be printed upon the retaining devices comprised in my improved construction.

As a means for effectively carrying out the just-described objects in cases where my improved blotter is used for advertising purposes, the sheet of oil-board or other equivalent material may be of a transparent nature,

the advertising matter being printed on the under side or inner surface of the sheet, and be thus visible in substantially the same manner as if it were printed on the surface of the employed to display.

A further object of my invention is to produce an improved blotter which will efiectively obviate the disadvantage experienced from the constant loss and displacement of sheets of this character when used upon crowded desks by the production of an improved device which from its nature and construction can be readily kept in sight or in convenient location and position for use.

To effectively carry out the objects and functions for which it is designed, my invention consists, substantially, in an improved the face of the said main strip, a pin or stud I projecting from the plate and throughthe strip, a securing-head working upon said pin or stud, and a strip of oil-board or equivalent material, preferably corresponding to the shape of the blotter and mountediupon'the pin or stud and against the under face of the strip with its edge abutting against the shoulder or equivalent projection, the edge of the sheet or sheets of blotter being inserted b.e-' tween the oil-board and the, clampin'grplate,

whereby the top sheet of oil-board serves as a contact-piece for the fingers of the user, and the carrying and retaining devices, including the head, operate to effect the retention of the blotter in convenient location and position upon the desk.

My invention further consists in certain .de tails of construction and arrangement of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 .is a perspective view illustrating my improved blotter. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line a; at, Fig. 5. Fig. 4 is a corresponding view taken on the line 3 y, Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 22, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a corresponding view taken on the line 2' 2, Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the parts of the device separated. Fig. 9 is a perspective View showing the under face of the main strip or block. Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a modification. Fig. ll is a detail sectional view of the same modification. Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on a longitudinal plane, illustrating another modification. Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view illustrating the latter modification. Fig. 14 is a perspective view illustrating the application of advertising matter to the contachpiece. Fig. 15 is a corresponding view illustrating the application of advertising matter to the under surface of a transparent contact-piece. Fig. 16 is a similar view illustrating the use of advertising-blotters in connection with a transparent contact-piece.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same letters of reference.

Referring to the drawings,A designates the main strip or block, which is adapted to extend across the end of a blotter-sheet of the ordinary oblong or rectangular shape, as herein shown. The strip A is provided with an inner face a, preferably formed by a 1011- gitudinal shoulder a, formed in the under side of the strip and extending from end to end, this shoulder being preferably located near the outer edge of the strip, so that the face a extends over a large portion of the un ,dersurface. The strip A is preferably formed of-wood, though it may be constructed of any other desired or adapted material.

B designates a plate, which approximately corresponds to the face a, and is adapted to operate in conjunction therewith. This plate is preferably constructed of metal, a spring steel plate being by preference employed, whereby the spring function of the plate serves to more securely retain the blottersheet in position. A pin or stud O is secured to the plate at about the center thereof and preferably nearer the inner edge of the plate which abuts against the shoulder a, whereby a greater space is left at the outer free edge 6 of the plate for the reception of a sufiicient portion of the end of the blottersheet. The pin or stud C may be secured to the plate in any suitable manner, and it proj ects upwardly through an eye or perforation b centrally formed in the strip A.

A knob or handle D, of any suitable or desired shape or construction, receives the pin or stud O, and thus serves to retain the plate and strip in proper relative position. This knob is preferably provided with a central bore or opening (Z, suitably screw-threaded, as

at d, and working upon the correspondingly screw-threaded end 0 of the pin or stud, the knob being screwed home and tightened against the upper face of the strip A. In

cases where the knob is constructed of wood by means of the projecting pin or stud the I plate is connected to the strip and retained against displacement therefrom by means of the knob or handle, and the inner edge 11 of the plate rests against the corresponding shoulder a of the strip A, and is thereby retained again-st lateral displacement or pivotal movement upon the pin 0. I

E designates the contact-piece, which consists of a sheet or strip of oil-board or other suitable material, and preferably conforms to the size and shape of the blotter-sheet. In lieu of oil-board acelluloid sheet or any other suitable or desired material may be employed, and the sheet may be of a transparent nature, for the purposes and under the circumstances hereinafter specified.

In using my improved blotter the hand or fingers of the user rest and press upon this contact-piece, and thus all contact of the hand or fingers with the blotter-sheet is obviated. For this reason I prefer under ordinary {circumstances to use oil-board, which presents a smooth surface best adapted for the purpose for which the sheet is designed and is not affected by the natural moisture from the fingers of the operator. The sheet E is provided about centrally near one end with an eye or opening 6, adapted to receive the pin or stud 0, upon which the sheet is mounted and securedin position. The inner edge e of the sheet E abuts against the corresponding shoulder a of the strip A, by which arrangement the contact-sheet is secured against displacement or lateral movement and retained in properposition with relation to the blotter-sheet.

If desired, suitable advertising matter may be printed upon the top surface of the contact-piece, as shown in Fig. 14, or the advertising matter may be applied upon the strip. When a transparent contact-piece is employed, the advertising matter may be printed upon the under surface of the contact-piece, as shown in Fig. 15, so that the hand or fingers of the user will not come in contact with the advertising or printed matter; also, in cases where a transparent contact-piece is employed the latter may be entirely clear of advertising matter, and advertising-blotters may be employed in such a manner that the matter upon the same will be visible upon the contact-pieces, as illustrated in Fig. 16 of the drawings. The contact-piece E is mounted between the strip A and plate B, so that it will be over and above the blotter-sheet and properly cover the same, and the blottersheet F is secured in position by having its edge inserted. between the outer end of the plate B and the adjoining end of the contactsheet. One or more blotter-sheets may be employed, as. desired; but one will usually be found sufficient and may be readily reversed when one surface has been sufficiently used. The end of the blotter-sheet is preferably inserted under the plate B until its edge abuts against the pin' or stud 0, when by screwing home the knob or handle D the outer free end of the spring-plate securely clamps and retains the blotter-sheet and the upper contact-piece in relative position. It will be noted that only the end of the blotter and contact sheet is secured, their remaining portion being entirely free and flexible in such a manner as will facilitate its convenient use and operation. The under face a, of the strip A is preferably beveled or inclined from its outer edge inwardly to the shoulder a, as clearly shown in the detail sectional views of the drawings, which construction more readily accommodates the position of the spring-plate and the contactpiece when the thicker blottersheet is clamped and secured between the free end of the plate and the end of the contact-sheet; but this construction is not essential to the proper and effective arrangement and operation of my improved blotter.

In Figs. 10 and 11 I .have shown a modification, in which, in lieu of the shoulder a upon the strip A, an equivalent projection or stop is formedby turning the end of the plate 13 at right angles to the main portion of the plate, as shown at g, this turned or bent up portion resting across and against the faceof the front edge of the strip A, and thus form-. ing a shoulder or stop, which is the equivalent of the shoulder a shown in the preferred construction of my invention and performs all the offices thereof.

In Figs. 12 and 13 I have shown another modification as an equivalent for the shoulder a, in which the plate Bis provided at or near its edge with two or more upwardly-projecting pins or studs h h, which are received by corresponding holes or recesses h h in the under face of the strip A, whereby when the several parts are assembled together these projecting pins or studs form a shoulder or stop in the same manner as if the shoulder a were employed.

I I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself -to the precise construction and arrangement of parts herein shown and specified, as manifest modifications may be made and equivalents employed without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and I therefore reserve the right to all such variations as properly fall within the spirit and scope of my claim.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. An improved blotter comprising the main strip adapted to extend across the end of the.

blotter-sheet, a plate corresponding thereto and adapted the bear against the under face of the strip, a contact-sheet of oil-board or equivalent material having its end secured between the strip and plate, a blotter-sheet having its end secured between the contactsheet and the plate, and devices for clamping the plate and strip together, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. An improved blotter comprising the main 3. An improved blotter comprising the main strip adapted to extend across the end of the blotter-sheet, a corresponding plate adapted to bear against the under face of the strip and provided with an upwardly-projecting pin or stud passing through the latter, a contact-sheet having an eye or perforation by which it is mounted upon the pin between the plate or strip, the blotter-sheet having its ends secured between the free end of the plate and. the secured end of the contactsheet, a shoulder or its equivalent against whichthe edges of the plate and contact-sheet abut, and a knob or handle working upon the pin and adapted to clamp the parts together, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

4. The herein-described improved blotter,

comprising the main strip having anunder ing its end secured and clamped by the free end of the plate, and the knob or handle working upon the pin and adapted to clamp the parts in relative position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, in an improved blotter,

of the main strip adapted to extendacross the end of the blotter-sheet, a contact-sheet of oilboard or equivalent material having its end secured to the strip, and a plate bearing against the under surface of the strip and having a free portion adapted to clamp the end of a blotter-sheet, whereby the blotter-sheet is secured in position under the contact-sheet, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination,in aniinproved blotter, of the main strip adapted to extend across the end of a blotter-sheet, a corresponding plate bearing against the under face of the strip and connected to the same, a contact-sheet having its end secured between the plate and strip, a shoulder or stop against which the edges of the plate and con tact-sheet abut, and means for clamping the parts together, whereby a blotter-sheet is adapted to be secured and clamped by the free end of the plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination, in an improved blotter, of the main strip or block adapted to be secured across the end of a blotter-sheet, a cor responding separate or independent springplate bearing against the under face of the strip and connected to the same, said plate having a free clamping end or portion extending across the length of the plate in front of its connection with the main block, and a blotter-sheet inserted and clamped between the free clamping portion at the front end of the plate and the strip, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination, in an improved blotter, of the main strip or block adapted to extend across the end of a blotter-sheet, the corresponding separate or independent bottom plate bearing against the under face of the strip and having the free clamping portion in front of the connection between the plate and the strip, devices for connecting the plate and strip, a shoulder or equivalent projection against which the inner edge of the plate abuts, and a blotter-sheet clamped and secured in position by the free front clamping end of the plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination, in an improved blotter, with the main strip having the under surface terminating in the longitudinal shoulder or abutment and the separate or independent spring clampingplate corresponding to said surface of the strip in front of the shoulder or abutment and having its inner edge abutting against said corresponding shoulder, the plate being connected with the strip and having the free clamping portion in front of the connection between the independent clamping-plate and the strip, of a blotter-sheet clamped and secured in position by the free front portion or end of the plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. The combination, in a blotter of the class described, with the main strip or block 7 A, having the under face a, of a separate or independent spring clamping-plate corresponding to said face and having the free clamping end extending across the plate and forming the projecting portion in front of the connection between the separate plat-e and the main strip, said plate bearing against the base a of the strip and connected therewith, whereby the sheets are adapted to have their ends clamped and secured between the free front projecting end of the plate and the strip, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. The combination, in a blotter of the class described, with the main strip having the under face and a retaining shoulder or projection or the equivalent thereof, of the herein described separate or independent spring clamping-plate corresponding to the under face of the strip and bearing against the face of the same and provided with a projectin g portion extending across the plate in front of the securing pin or stud, the plate being retained against lateral displacement by the said shoulder or projection and provided with the upwardly-projecting pin or stud, the sheets being adapted to have their ends clampedbetween the free front projecting portion or end of the plate and the strip, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In an improved blotter, the combination of a main strip adapted to extend across the end of the blottensheet, a corresponding clamping-plate, a contact-sheet of oil-board or equivalent material, and a blotter-sheet secured under the contact-sheet, the sheets being secured in position and carried by the retaining devices, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

13. In an improved blotter, the combination, with securing and carrying devices located at the end, of a contact-sheet of oilboard or equivalent material, and a blottersheet located under the contact-sheet, the ends of the sheets being secured by the carrying devices, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. r 14:. The combination, in an improved blotter of the class described, with securing and carrying devices at one end, comprising a a plate having a clamping end, and with a contact-sheetof oil-boardor equivalent material permanently connected with the carrying devices when in normal position,of a detachable and reversible blotter-sheet having its end detachably inserted between the carrying devices, substantially as and for the purpose set forth,

15. As an improved article of manufacture, a blotter of the class described, comprising, essentially, a main strip, a corresponding clamping plate connected therewith and adapted to bear against the strip, and a contact-sheet of oil-board or equivalent material connected with and carried by the clamping devices, blotter-sheets being adapted to be secured and carried by the clamping devices in position under the contact-sheet, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

16. As an improved article of manufacture, a blotter of the class described, consisting, essentially, of a fiat contact-sheet of oil-board IIO i or equivalent material, and clamping and seunder the contact sheet, substantially as and lo curing devices secured across one end of the for the purpose set forth.

same, said devices comprising a main strip, In testimonywhereof I aflix my signature in a clamping-plate, and an operating knob or presence of two witnesses. I

5 handle projecting" at one end of the blotter 7 v and adapted to rnaintain the blotter in con- ARD CLAIR WAIT venient position and location for use,b1otter- Witnesses: sheets being adapted to be secured to and J ESSE STEARNS,

carried by the clamping devices in position H. D. PERRINE. 

